A counting device bears a visually distinct pattern or marking, and is coupled to a pusher or other movable system of a shelf in a manner that causes the counting device to rotate in response to changes in position of the pusher. When items are placed on a shelf, or removed from the shelf, causing the pusher to move, the pattern on the counting device rotates at an angle defined by an extent of the movement of the pusher. Images captured of the counting device at various times may be processed to determine orientations of the pattern at such times. Where a change in an orientation of a pattern is detected, a number of items added to or removed from a shelf may be calculated based on the change in orientation and an event involving the number of items may be determined to have occurred.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the items comprises one of a greeting card, an envelope, a package of seeds, a book, a personal care product, or a beverage.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the front panel and the housing is formed from one or more of a metal, a wood, a polyacrylate or a polyethylene.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first plurality of items has a substantially common thickness.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the first orientation, the second orientation and the change in position of the first pusher is determined by at least one processor unit operating on the camera.
16. The method of claim 7, wherein the tether comprises one or more of a natural fiber, an artificial fiber or a chain.
17. The method of claim 7, wherein the first visible pattern has a shape of a circle, a triangle or a rectangle.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 3, 2020
February 13, 2024
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